Small College Recap: Houston Baptist rises above the pack in Week 3

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Team of the Week:

Houston Baptist Huskies (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Quarterback Bailey Zappe led HBU to a 9-play 70-yard touchdown drive and wide receiver Ben Ratzlaff completed a two-point conversion pass to Coleman Robinson with 1:14 remaining last Saturday as the Huskies pulled out an incredible 53-52 win on the road over South Dakota in the Dakotadome. Zappe had another impressive performance as he completed 41-of-53 passes for 513 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions to set new school records for completions and passing yards. Ratzlaff also set school records with 12 receptions for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Jerreth Sterns (10 catches, 114 yards) and Gamar Girdy Brito (9 catches, 103 yards, one touchdown) gave the Huskies three receivers over the century mark in the game. Tra Fluellen registered 14 tackles and an interception and Caleb Johnson had 11 tackles and a sack to lead the HBU defense. Defensive end Andre Walker recorded four sacks for the Huskies. Look for a feature story on the Huskies this week on texasfootball.com.

The Verdict: The Huskies continue to show improvement in only their sixth season as a football program. This is a huge win for the HBU program and breaks a 20-game losing streak to Division I competition. The Huskies have shown they are ready to begin making noise after nearly defeating UTEP to open the season. Shealy has built the program from the ground up with high school players and is using transfers to fill some holes for the first time this season. The payoff has been nice so far as this win came in the 100th game of Shealy’s head coaching career.

This Week: HBU returns home on Saturday as they host Northwestern State to begin Southland Conference play at 6 p.m.

NCAA FCS Recap

Abilene Christian Wildcats (1-2, 0-1)

Last week: Central Arkansas scored a touchdown with 1:30 remaining and ACU missed a 46-yard field goal as time expired last Saturday as the Wildcats fell 31-30 on the road to the No. 14 Bears. Quarterback Luke Anthony completed 24-of-41 passes for 322 yards and a touchdown to lead the offense while Tracy James rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats. Josh Fink was the leading receiver as he caught four passes for 98 yards. Bolu Onifade and Adonis Davis each registered nine tackles for ACU.

The Verdict: The Wildcats put up a heck of a fight in their first game against FCS competition this season. ACU continues to show their improvement in head coach Adam Dorrell’s third season at the helm. The Wildcats look to bounce back at home this week.

This Week: ACU returns home to play McNeese on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Incarnate Word Cardinals (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: UIW had a bye last week.

The Verdict: The Cardinals begin defense of their Southland Conference title this week as they hit the road for a huge battle against Sam Houston State. UIW has had an extra week to prepare for a Bearkats team that is coming off a tough road loss. This game is huge for both teams.

This Week: UIW travels to Huntsville, Texas this week to play No. 21 Sam Houston State at 6 p.m. Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Lamar Cardinals (2-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Lamar saw their 10-game regular-season winning streak come to a halt last Saturday night as they fell 62-3 on the road to No. 16 Texas A&M. Quarterback Jordan Hoy completed 10-of-24 passes for 75 yards for the Cardinals. Myles Wanza led the rushing attack for Lamar as he had 53 yards rushing on eight carries. Linebacker Dallas Martin led the defense with 11 tackles while defensive back Michael Lawson added 10 tackles for the Cardinals.

The Verdict: The Cardinals knew the task was tall last week against the Aggies and Lamar held close for most of the first half. Lamar will open Southland Conference play this week against a team that is playing much better than people anticipated in the preseason.

This Week: Lamar will play the final game of their two-game road trip on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Southeastern Louisiana. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Prairie View A&M Panthers (1-2, 1-0)

Last Week: PVAMU led No. 11 Nicholls 21-6 at the half but a 29-point third quarter for the Colonels was too much for the Panthers to overcome as they fell 42-35 at home. Quarterback Jalen Morton completed 22-of-35 passes for 308 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Wide receiver Tony Mullins had five receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Tre’Shaud Smith registered 15 tackles and two sacks while fellow linebacker Storey Jackson added 14 tackles for the Panthers.

The Verdict: Morton responded with a strong outing for the Panthers one week after being benched against Houston due to being ineffective. PVAMU put a scare into a good Nicholls team and opens SWAC conference play with three huge games in a row.

This Week: PVAMU travels to play Alcorn State on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

No. 21 Sam Houston State Bearkats (1-2, 0-0)

Last Week: A 13-point deficit entering the fourth quarter was too much for SHSU to overcome as their comeback fell just short with a 27-23 loss to North Dakota. Quarterback Eric Schmid completed 16-of-30 passes for 114 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while adding 53 yards rushing and a touchdown on 20 carries. Donovan Williams added a rushing touchdown for the Kats while Dee Bowens caught seven passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.

The Verdict: This was another tough loss for the Kats against North Dakota for the second straight season. SHSU will need to rebound quickly as they open conference play this weekend against last year’s co-champions. This week will be huge for the remainder of the Kats season.

This Week: SHSU returns home to meet Incarnate Word on Saturday night at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (0-3, 0-0)

Last Week: SFA played their best game of the season last Saturday night but was unable to complete the victory as they fell 45-38 on the road to Southern Utah in overtime. Quarterback Trae Self completed 27-of-44 passes for 290 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Da’Leon Ward led the rushing attack with 72 yards on 19 carries while Remi Simmons and Thom Hutchings each recorded a receiving touchdown. Trenton Gordon and Bert Morris led the ‘Jacks defense as each registered nine tackles.

The Verdict: The ‘Jacks nearly earned head coach Colby Carthel his first victory for SFA last week. SFA will need to improve their rushing attack and their pass defense as they head into conference play with a tough game this week.

This Week: SFA returns home this week to meet No. 11 Nicholls at 6 p.m. Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Texas Southern Tigers (0-3, 0-1)

Last Week: TSU ran into a hot team last Saturday night and left Lafayette, La. with a 77-6 loss to the Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. Quarterback DeAndre Johnson completed 16-of-30 passes for 151 yards. Wide receiver Donnie Corley led all receivers with 62 yards receiving on six catches. The Tigers struggled to run the ball as they only registered 72 total rushing yards. Jadrian McGraw led the TSU defense with eight tackles while Ja’Cor Benjamin registered seven tackles.

The Verdict: That was the best team the Tigers will face on their schedule all season. However, the road does not get any easier for TSU as they return to FCS competition against a much-improved Houston Baptist team following their bye week.

This Week: TSU has a bye this week.

NCAA DII Recap

Angelo State Rams (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: ASU opened the first half by scoring 51 points on their way to a dominating 68-7 win over Simon Fraser (B.C.) last Saturday night. Quarterbacks Payne Sullins and Charlie Rotherham combined to complete 26-of-39 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Lloyd Howard led the rushing attack with 130 yards and two touchdowns on only 13 carries. Keke Chism, Alize Thomas and Austin Landry each recorded a receiving touchdown for the Rams.

The Verdict: The Rams continued their impressive start to the season with another big victory over a team from Super Region Four. ASU will begin Lone Star Conference play this week against another team that has shown improvement over last season.

This Week: ASU travels to Kingsville, Texas Saturday night to play Texas A&M-Kingsville at 7 p.m.

No. 16 Midwestern State Mustangs (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: MSU Texas needed two blocked field goals and a blocked extra point along with a late defensive stand to defeat Lindenwood 28-27 last Saturday night. Quarterback Zach Purcell completed 16-of-27 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. Quinton Childs had a huge game on the ground with 135 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Linebacker Rigoberto Carrillo led the Mustangs defense once again with 14 tackles.

The Verdict: The Mustangs survived this week as the ground game was outstanding. The offense needs to put both the rushing and passing attack together as they enter conference play this week. Head coach Bill Maskill is an excellent special teams coach and that was huge last week.

This Week: MSU Texas will have their home opener on Saturday night when they host UT Permian Basin at 7 p.m.

No. 5 Tarleton State Texans (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Tarleton State rolled to their 12th straight regular season win last Saturday night as they defeated NAIA Doane 56-3. Khalil Banks led the Texans rushing attack with 168 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 carries. Quarterback Ben Holmes completed 13-of-19 passes for 212 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Wide receiver Zimari Manning had an incredible night with eight catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

The Verdict: The Texans made sure to take care of the over-matched Doane early after last week’s huge win over SFA. Tarleton State will open conference action this week as they host a team that is also undefeated to open the season.

This Week: Tarleton State concludes their two-game homestand as they host West Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

No. 12 Texas A&M-Commerce Lions (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: E.J. Thompson scored from five yards out last Saturday to complete the Texas A&M-Commerce comeback as the Lions won 34-27 on the road against Western Oregon. Thompson finished with 81 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 17 carries while quarterback Miklo Smalls completed 23-of-31 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. Chance Cooper registered a receiving touchdown for the Lions while Kader Kohou had an interception to lead the defense.

The Verdict: Road wins are never easy, but the Lions earned a big comeback win over a Super Region Four opponent. The Lions open LSC play this week with a big challenge as they face the potent triple-option attack of the Greyhounds.

This Week: TAMUC returns home to meet Eastern New Mexico at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Texas A&M-Kingsville rebounded from their disappointing loss last week to earn a dominating 72-0 win over NCAA D-III Sul Ross State. Cade Dyal and Koy Detmer split time at quarterback once again and they combined to complete 25-of 31 passes for 247 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Luis Lopez registered 132 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries to lead a rushing attack that totaled 302 yards rushing. Tre Tutt recorded nine tackles and recovered a fumble for the Javelinas defense.

The Verdict: This was a good team for the Javelinas to play as they were seeking to correct some of their mistakes before conference play begins. The easy games are over for TAMUK as the next three weeks they meet teams either ranked in the Top 25 or receiving votes.

This Week: TAMUK concluded its three-game homestand on Saturday night when they host Angelo State at 7 p.m.

UT Permian Basin Falcons (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: UTPB continues to take strides forward in their fourth year as a football program as the Falcons defeated Northern Michigan 40-24 last Saturday night. Quarterback Taylor Null completed 18-of-24 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Gabe Nelson, Kameron Mathis and Marquis Simmons each recorded a rushing touchdown while Kobe Robinson led all receivers with 120 yards receiving on five catches and a touchdown. Linebacker Chris Hoad led the Falcons defense with 16 tackles.

The Verdict: The Falcons showed how improved they are over last season with this win over a team they narrowly lost to on the road last year. However, the road is tough from here as UTPB has its next two games against No. 16 MSU Texas and No. 5 Tarleton State.

This Week: UTPB will play their first road game of the season as they visit No. 16 Midwestern State at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

West Texas A&M Buffaloes (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: West Texas A&M scored 35 unanswered points last Saturday afternoon to earn a big 49-21 road win over William Jewell. Duke Carter IV rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries while quarterback Nick Gerber completed 14-of-23 passes for 187 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Linebacker Frank Honang registered 11 tackles and a sack while forcing a fumble to lead the Buffs defense.

The Verdict: WT was able to overcome another slow start last week with a big second half for the second straight week. The Buffs have outscored their opponents 63-10 in the second half so far. WT will need to start fast and play their best game this week.

This Week: The Buffs will conclude their two-game road trip as they play No. 5 Tarleton State at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

NCAA DIII Recap

Austin College Kangaroos (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Austin College was down 12 points in the second half but rallied to a 27-26 victory over Southwestern Assemblies of God last Saturday. Quarterback Colt Collins had 236 yards passing and two touchdowns including the game-winning touchdown pass to Adonis Martin. Maika Brinkerhoff registered 95 yards receiving on three catches while Keegan Nichols once again led the ‘Roos defense with 13 tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

The Verdict: The Kangaroos picked up a much-needed victory last week, but they face a tough challenge this week against one of the favorites to win the Southern Athletic Association title. The ‘Roos will need to improve their rushing attack for this week.

This Week: Austin College returns home this week to face No. 19 Centre at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

East Texas Baptist Tigers (0-1, 0-0)

Last Week: ETBU had a bye last week.

The Verdict: The Tigers had a week off to correct their mistakes and lick their wounds from a season-opening loss on the road. ETBU has a huge game this weekend as they open American Southwest Conference play against another 0-1 team.

This Week: ETBU will play their home opener on Saturday night as they host Texas Lutheran at 6 p.m.

No. 7 Hardin-Simmons Cowboys (2-0, 1-0)

Last Week: Hardin-Simmons found themselves in a defensive struggle last week, but the Cowboys scored 16 unanswered points on their way to a big 16-10 win over Trinity last Saturday night. Quarterback Brennen Wooten completed 22-of-34 passes for 163 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while Jaquan Hemphill led the rushing attack with 91 yards on 17 carries. Blake Johnston recorded an interception to lead the Cowboys defense. Click here to read a more in-depth story about this game from texasfootball.com.

The Verdict: This was a huge in-region win for the Cowboys and will hopefully help them when the playoff bracket is announced in November. HSU will play the remainder of its games against teams from the ASC.

This Week: HSU travels to play Howard Payne on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Howard Payne Yellow Jackets (2-0, 1-0)

Last Week: HPU scored 42 points in the second half to complete an impressive comeback and defeat their rival McMurry 56-37 last Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Caleb Estes completed 26-of-31 passes for 388 yards and five touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown. Billy Reagins had 114 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries. DunTayviun Gross led the receiving corps with 148 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. Britt Boler led the Yellow Jackets defense with 10 tackles.

The Verdict: The Yellow Jackets continue to show improvement under head coach Braxton Harris this season. The next two weeks will be tough for HPU as they meet two teams ranked in the Top 10 in the country.

This Week: HPU will play their home opener on Saturday afternoon as they host No. 7 Hardin-Simmons at 1 p.m.

No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders (1-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Mary Hardin-Baylor opened defense of their national title last Saturday by scoring the final 25 points in the game to defeat Albright College 56-15. Luke Poorman split time at quarterback with Ryan Redding. Poorman completed 6-of-10 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown while Redding completed 4-of-10 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Tye Hill was the leading rusher with 65 yards and a touchdown on only three carries. Tevin Jones registered 15 tackles to lead the Cru defense.

The Verdict: The Cru were not near as dominant in this game as they were against Albright last season. UMHB has some question marks as they move forward, but they have time to figure out the answers before they get into the teeth of their conference schedule.

This Week: UMHB will continue their three-game homestand as they host Belhaven at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

McMurry War Hawks (0-2, 0-1)

Last Week: McMurry held a 17-14 lead at halftime but was unable to hold the lead in the second half as they fell 56-37 to Howard Payne. Quarterback Xavier Alexander completed 13-of-31 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns while Dee Robinson registered 51 yards rushing on 12 carries while adding 90 yards and a touchdown receiving. Eriel Dorsey was impressive as the wide receiver caught four passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. Dakota Russell-David recorded 11 tackles while Ethan Blocker added 10 tackles for the War Hawks defense.

The Verdict: Head coach Jordan Neal has a long road ahead to rebuild the War Hawks. One thing is for certain after the first two weeks of the season, McMurry will put up a fight in every game they play this season. The War Hawks have a good opportunity to pick up a win this week.

This Week: McMurry concludes their two-game homestand this week as they host Sul Ross State at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Southwestern University Pirates (1-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Southwestern had a bye last week.

The Verdict: The Pirates had a week off to correct their mistakes from their impressive season-opening victory and prepare for their next opponent. Southwestern will play their home opener this week against a solid conference opponent.

This Week: Southwestern will begin conference play this week as they host Louisiana College at 6 p.m.

Sul Ross State Lobos (0-2, 0-1)

Last Week: Sul Ross State stepped up a level of competition last Saturday and left with a 72-0 defeat to Texas A&M-Kingsville. Quarterback Jorge Barrera completed 9-of-22 passes for 98 yards while Logan Schnautz led the receiving corps with 45 yards receiving on three receptions. Free safety Isaiah Jacobs led the Lobos defense with 10 tackles and intercepted a pass.

The Verdict: The Lobos have played two very tough opponents to begin the season. Sul Ross will have an opportunity to pull out a win this week when they go back to conference action against a McMurry team with a new head coach.

This Week: Sul Ross State concludes their two-game road trip on Saturday when they play McMurry at 2 p.m.

Texas Lutheran Bulldogs (0-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Texas Lutheran was unable to hang onto a late six-point lead as they fell 26-23 to Hendrix in their season opener. Quarterbacks Wade Freeman and Andrew Lotz split time for the Bulldogs and completed 23-of-32 passes for 195 yards. Ian Leslie led the Bulldogs on the ground with 109 yards on 16 carries while Austin Mathews added 96 yards rushing and a touchdown on 14 carries. Mason Perkins led the receiving corps with 75 yards on five receptions. Dakwa Davis led the defense with 13 tackles.

The Verdict: This is a tough loss to open the season for TLU and they have no time to rest as they travel to meet an East Texas Baptist team that has had two weeks to prepare for the Bulldogs.

Last Week: Trinity opened with a nice 75-yard touchdown drive last Saturday night but was unable to win a defensive slugfest as they fell 16-10 to No. 9 Hardin-Simmons. Quarterback Wyatt Messex completed 13-of-26 passes for 160 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tommy Lavine was the leading receiver with five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Linebacker Michael Jewett led the defense with 10 tackles. Click here to read a more in-depth story about this game from texasfootball.com.

The Verdict: The Tigers are one game into a brutal three-game stretch. The next two weeks are huge for the Tigers playoff and conference title hopes as they play the two ranked foes in the SAA.

This Week: Trinity returns home to play No. 13 Berry at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

NAIA Recap

Southwestern Assemblies of God Lions (0-2, 0-0)

Last Week: SAGU was unable to hold onto a late lead last Saturday as they dropped a tough 27-26 decision to NCAA D-III Austin College. Quarterback Brylen Watson completed 21-of-33 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns while adding 49 yards rushing and a touchdown on 14 carries for the Lions. Running back Michael Bledsoe registered 89 yards rushing on 20 carries while Bryant Dotson had 10 receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

The Verdict: The Lions outgained the ‘Roos by almost 100 yards and ran 26 more plays than Austin College last week. SAGU held the ‘Roos to only 28 yards rushing yet still was unable to get the victory. The signs are pointing up for the Lions as they have another bye week before conference play begins.

This Week: SAGU have a bye this week.

Texas College Steers (0-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Texas College hung tough with NCAA D-II Lane College last week before allowing 19 second-half points in a 29-0 defeat. The Steers struggled to move the ball last week as they had 16 yards rushing and 74 yards passing. However, the defense was able to recover two fumbles to hold the Dragons in check. Texas College only allowed 3.9 yards per rush and 5.9 yards per pass last week.

The Verdict: The Steers will be able to build off last week’s game as they begin play in the Sooner Athletic Conference this week. Texas College will need to be ready as Lyon will remember when the Steers defeated them to end last season.

This Week: Texas College will continue their three-game homestand when they host Lyon College at 11 a.m. Saturday afternoon.

Texas Wesleyan Rams (0-2, 0-0)

Last Week: Texas Wesleyan had a bye last week.

The Verdict: The Rams have faced a brutally tough schedule to open the season. TXWES had a week off to heal and prepare for their conference opener this week against a solid team also in their third year as a football program.

This Week: TXWES will continue their four-game road trip as they play Ottawa at 9 p.m. Saturday night.

Wayland Baptist Pioneers (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Wayland Baptist had a bye last week.

The Verdict: The Pioneers week off came at a good time as they prepare to begin play in a tough conference. Their first two conference games will be a challenge as they open with the teams from Arizona.

This Week: WBU will host Arizona Christian on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

NJCAA Recap

No. 16 Blinn Buccaneers (3-1, 1-1)

Last Week: Blinn College scored 42 points in the second quarter to run away from Rezolution Prep Academy 72-7 last Saturday. Quarterback Brock Landis completed 8-of-19 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. D’Anthony Simms-Coleman recorded 96 yards rushing and a touchdown on eight carries while Danny Gray registered 130 yards receiving and a touchdown on four catches.

The Verdict: Blinn needed a confidence-building week as they prepare to head back into conference action this week with a Top 20 showdown at home. The Buccaneers will need their offense to be strong this week against a good Cardinals defense.

This Week: Blinn College concludes their two-game homestand Saturday as they host No. 13 Trinity Valley at 7 p.m.

Cisco Wranglers (3-0, 1-0)

Last Week: Cisco pulled off the upset again as the Wranglers took down No. 2 Kilgore 38-23 last Saturday. Quarterback Blain Kruemcke completed 17-of-32 passes for 253 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. Greg Garner was solid on the ground as he rushed for 127 yards on 14 carries while Darion Chafin hauled in seven passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Sebastion Tauaalo led the defense with 10 tackles and forced a fumble.

The Verdict: The Wranglers made a statement this week that they are a team that can contend for the SWJCFC title this season. Cisco was the last team to defeat Kilgore in the regular season and ended the Rangers 11 game regular season winning streak.

This Week: Cisco College returns home to host Navarro at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

No. 2 Kilgore Rangers (3-1, 3-1)

Last Week: Kilgore lost to a familiar foe last Saturday night as Cisco once again defeated the Rangers 38-23. Quarterback Jacob Frazier completed 20-of-43 passes for 263 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 95 yards on the ground. Omar Manning led the receiving corps with 105 yards and a touchdown while Gabe Douglas registered six catches for 97 yards for the Rangers.

The Verdict: The Rangers loss ended an 11-game regular-season winning streak and the last team to defeat Kilgore in the regular season was also Cisco last year. The Rangers must rebound quickly this week as they face a long road trip and a tough team.

Last Week: Navarro jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead and held off a late rally by Tyler to pull out a huge 42-37-win last Saturday night. Quarterback Parker McNeil completed 25-of-31 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns. Isaiah Robinson added 87 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Alex Washington caught seven passes for 129 yards and a touchdown while Quinton Lee added 116 yards receiving and two touchdowns on five catches.

The Verdict: The Bulldogs earned a hard-fought victory to keep their hopes of making the SWJCFC playoffs alive this season. The reward for Navarro is to travel and meet a Cisco team that just defeated the No. 2 team in the country.

This Week: Navarro College travels to meet Cisco at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

No. 13 Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals (3-0, 3-0)

Last Week: TVCC used a mighty defensive performance to defeat No. 20 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 27-8 last Saturday night. Quarterback Riley Russell entered for injured starter Jeremy Hunt and tossed three touchdown passes for the Cardinals as nine different Cardinals receivers caught a pass. Derrick Ray led the outstanding defensive effort as he registered two sacks while forcing and recovering a fumble.

The Verdict: The Cardinals defense went an impressive five quarters without allowing the opposition to score until allowing a fourth-quarter touchdown. The defense will need to be solid once again this week as they hit the road for another Top 20 showdown.

Last Week: Tyler scored 17 points in the fourth quarter but was unable to complete the comeback as they fell 42-37 on the road to Navarro. Quarterback David Johnson completed 26-of-43 passes for 342 yards while Trenton Kennedy led the rushing attack with 98 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Drue Jackson was the leading receiver for the Apaches as he registered eight receptions for 119 yards.

The Verdict: The Apaches have played a brutally tough schedule to start the season. They have a chance next week to regroup and get themselves back on track for the remainder of their conference schedule.

This Week: Tyler Junior College returns home to host Texas A&T on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

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